SHELBURNE - An informal poll of the state's plan to merge school districts yielded three shrugs and intentions to skip the June 7th vote.

While the majority of parents attending little league practice in Shelburne’s Davis Park neighborhood on Wednesday didn't appear to know about the proposed Act 46, Shelburne-resident Julie Cole caught walking on School Street said the act "makes sense." She declined to comment further andsaid, “I hope I don’t get hate mail.”

The first phase of redistricting, or the state’s formal push to merge affiliated school supervisory unions under Act 46, is up for vote in four unions across the state: Chittenden South, Franklin Northeast, Orleans Central and Washington West. New boards are also on the ballot.

Currently in Chittenden South Supervisory Union (CSSU) there are altogether six schools and seven boards with 34 board members among them.

The merger creates one 11-to-12-member board formed in proportion to town population. Williston would have four representatives with three from Shelburne, two each from Charlotte and Hinesburg, and one from St. George (if St. George chooses to join). If approved, the boards would have one year to transition. The new consolidated board would take over all operations before July 1, 2017, in order for taxpayers to receive the five-year state property tax incentives.

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A hallway at Shelburne Community School seen on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015.(Photo: GLENN RUSSELL/FREE PRESS FILE)

All municipalities except St. George, must approve the act to gain the benefits. Failure to pass the voluntary measure leaves school district assignment to the Vermont State Board of Education in 2018. Whether towns take matters into their own hands or not, the state is moving forward with consolidation plans.

Consolidation, however, does not mean downsizing. When asked if layoffs are being discussed current CSSU School Board Chairman David Connery said, “No administration will be let go. About 70 percent of resources are already shared.”

At the Shelburne Selectboard meeting on Tuesday night, Connery highlighted the proposed benefits of the merger. The new union would assume $9.25 million in school bonds for repairs to Shelburne's elementary school.

Connery mentioned that Williston is also considering a bond to fund repairs.

Susan Ohanian of Charlotte, a mentor at Charlotte Central School, voiced concern about the town having fewer representatives on the new board. “The further you move from local control,” she said, “there is more attention to testing and less focus on programs we care about.”

Richard Hess, also of Charlotte, said voters “haven’t seen enough of the pros and cons. People aren’t informed."

Williston parents and teachers were approached for comment on Thursday morning at the Allen Brook Elementary School, but the Burlington Free Press was asked to withdraw before obtaining an opinion.

Donna Russo-Savage, an assistant to the Secretary of Education, encouraged community members to explore the Act 46 website and ask questions.

“My job," she said, "is to provide unbiased guidance regarding the law as it currently exists so that communities can determine for themselves what is best for them and their students.”

Pre-vote information sessions in all districts will be held on June 6, at 7 p.m., at designated schools. Ballots are currently available at some town offices.